Shock!People can perform amputation 30,000 years ago

Wen ｜ Zhao Xixi

The lower left leg of the individual child was amputated, but when he was just an adult, the incident occurred at Borneo 31,000 years ago. Picture source: Jose Garcia

Scientists recently discovered a case of human skeleton that dates back to 31,000 years ago. This person has performed amputation surgery in his left foot and obtained recovery after surgery.

This discovery shows that the appearance of advanced surgery in tropical Asia has been considered thousands of years earlier than before. Related studies were published on September 7 in "Nature" magazine.

The amputation requires a very comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and surgical hygiene, and it is necessary to master a lot of surgical skills. Before the development of modern clinical medicine (such as antibacterial agent), most patients undergoing amputation surgery died of blood loss shock or postoperative infection.

The most complicated surgery was known before 7,000 years ago in the French Neolithic Age. A farmer underwent left amputenant surgery and healed after surgery.

Tim Maloney at the University of Girifis, Australia, and colleagues reported the skeleton relic of a young individual discovered by Borneo. The lower one -third of the younger left calf was surgly amputation. The person may still be a child during amputation, and all this happened at least 31,000 years ago.

Researchers found that the person survived for 6 to 9 years after surgery, and was finally buried in the limestone cave in Liang Tebo, eastern Kaliman.

Researchers pointed out that people who have a left calf amputation surgery for this person must know the structure, muscles and blood vessels in the limbs, and know how to prevent fatal blood loss and infection.

They speculate that this person's amputation is not like an animal attack or other accidents, because such incidents generally cause crushing fractures. A amputation is not likely to be a means of punishment, because the amputated person seems to have been carefully taken care of after surgery and be carefully buried.

The results show that some early modern people's foraging groups in Asia have mastered advanced medical knowledge and technology in the late tropical rain forest environment.

Researchers believe that the extremely fast wound infection in the tropical environment may promote the emergence of new drugs, such as antibacterial agents. These drugs use the plants and medicinal value of Borneo's biodiversity.

Related thesis information:

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-022-05160-8

"China Science News" (2022-09-08 The 2nd Edition International Title "Amputation Thirty-Thousand A few years ago")

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Capture | Jiang Zhihai

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